The results of the operation to liberate the territories of the former Lugansk and Donetsk regions by the forces of two corps of the People's Militia with fire and air support from the Russian army look very impressive.

Republican troops managed to advance dozens of kilometers deep into the territory occupied by the enemy, crushing the echeloned defense.

More than 40 settlements have been taken under control in the Luhansk People's Republic, and 39 in Donetsk. However, the situation in many of them is critical due to the lack of electricity, water and food.

Food has to be cooked on fires.

The authorities of the republics are urgently trying to establish a normal life in the liberated territories.

How were the liberators welcomed?

Mostly with joy and a sense of relief.

Life under the Ukrainian military was often associated with numerous prohibitions of various kinds, humiliation and the need to express constant loyalty to Ukraine and Nazi ideology.

Such an existence cannot be called easy.

Not all territories have been liberated yet.

APU entrenched in Mariupol.

According to the head of the DPR, Denis Pushilin, active hostilities there are now impossible due to the significant number of civilians remaining in the city, who may suffer as a result of shelling.

A humanitarian corridor has been opened through which citizens can leave, but the deputy head of the People's Militia, Eduard Basurin, claims that the Ukrainian military does not let people out, using them as human shields.

Ukrainian troops, having rolled back a considerable distance, still continue shelling the republics, although yesterday their intensity slightly decreased.

More or less everyone gets it, but the city of Gorlovka near Donetsk suffers the most, which is ironed virtually non-stop.

Donetsk is being shelled from nearby Avdiivka.

The situation in the republics suddenly deteriorated sharply on February 17.

For no apparent reason, the Armed Forces of Ukraine began inflicting massive artillery strikes on the DPR and LPR.

During the retreat, Ukrainian units abandoned weapons, artillery, armored vehicles, mainly tanks.

Most of the vehicles were not damaged and are in fully combat-ready condition.

The letters "Z" are applied to them, and they get up in order.

In the LPR, the city of Shchastia suffered to the maximum extent.

Ukrainian troops entrenched themselves right in the blocks of high-rise buildings facing the line of demarcation.

The bridge across the Seversky Donets here was blown up by them during their retreat.

In most of the city there is no water, gas, heating, in some places they have already started supplying electricity.

There are renovations going on everywhere.

In both republics, the news about the start of a special operation in Ukraine was received with great enthusiasm.

Here they very much hope that, following its results, the eight-year nightmare with constant shelling will finally stop, the Ukrainian army will be neutralized, and it will no longer be able to terrorize the Donbass.

The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editors.